Bees Chooses to Follow Quietly in the Footsteps of Bonds at CLU

Former Cal Lutheran quarterback Tom Bonds knew about hostile takeovers before he became a stockbroker with Shearson Lehman Hutton this summer.

What else would you call it when a 260-pound linebacker stuffs you face first into the turf, forcing the ball into enemy hands?

But now that Bonds has traded his playbook for a stock portfolio and his shoulder pads for a three-piece suit, can the Kingsmen improve on their 5-6 record--1-5 in the Western Football Conference--without him?

The Kingsmen, who open training camp today, will soon find out. Six quarterbacks, including four freshmen, will compete for the position.

Jim Bees, a junior with a strong, untested arm, is the leading candidate to succeed Bonds, holder of 11 school records, six WFC records and an NCAA Division II record for most completions (44) in a game. Bonds passed for 7,773 yards in his career, ranking him sixth all-time among Division II quarterbacks.

Bees, 5 foot, 11 inches, 180 pounds, emerged as the heir apparent to Bonds last April during Cal Lutheran’s spring practice. He knows the offense and had last season to gauge the competition in the WFC.

To Bees’ disadvantage is his lack of playing time. He appeared in only two games last year (attempting seven passes) before suffering a shoulder injury against Cal State Northridge.

Bees’ last full season was 1986, when he completed 66 of 159 passes for 1,002 yards for San Bernardino Valley College.

Ed Gran, CLU’s first-year offensive coordinator, is not concerned about Bees’ ability to shake off the rust.

“He’s one of the most competitive people I have ever seen,” Gran said. “All he needs is more game experience.”

Gran said Bees’ strengths are his strong arm and quick release.

“He throws the ball very hard,” Gran said. “When he develops a touch and learns how to read the defense, he will be a good quarterback in the Western Football Conference.”

Coach Bob Shoup agreed.

“He has good quickness and a real nice release,” Shoup said. “I think he just needs some playing time.”

But Shoup concedes that it will be difficult to replace Bonds, who was the team’s emotional leader as well as its most talented player.

“He did so many things well, there just isn’t a carbon copy available of Bonds,” Shoup said.

Whatever pressure Bees may be feeling, he’s not talking about it. Bees declined comment on the season because he said he didn’t want to place undue pressure or expectations on himself.

Bees’ competition includes former Moorpark College quarterback Dan Nagelmann, who also worked out with the team during the spring. Nagelmann transferred to Cal Lutheran in the hopes of succeeding Bonds.

“Bees has the upper hand, but I’m going to work for it,” Nagelmann said.

The four freshman quarterbacks include Tom Spitznagel and Dan Blatt, both of whom redshirted last year. Cal Lutheran also signed two high school prospects--Bill Gallis of Northview High in Covina and Tim Zeddies of Helix High in San Diego. “We’re really anxious to see how our incoming freshmen will do,” Shoup said.

Gallis (6-3, 180) was the Southern Section’s Eastern Conference Player of the Year after leading his team to a 12-1-1 record and the conference title. He passed for 3,358 yards and 33 touchdowns during his two-year career. Zeddies passed for 1,127 yards and 10 touchdowns last year despite missing three of his team’s 12 games.

Gran said Cal Lutheran might alternate two quarterbacks to shore up its multiple-set offense.

“Bees is the starter going into camp, but we expect to see some good competition,” Gran said.